Nevada, 2013High Wind in Nevada, March 20, 2013
March 20, 2013 · NWS REV · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Low pressure moved into the Pacific Northwest on the 20th, bringing damaging high winds to the Reno and Carson City area ahead of a cold front.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Low pressure moved into the Pacific Northwest on the 20th, bringing damaging high winds to the Reno and Carson City area ahead of a cold front.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Reno, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 2:20 AM PST, 9 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 2:20 AM PST, 9 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
320 AM PDT WED MAR 20 2013
.SHORT TERM...
NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE SHORT TERM FORECAST.
AMSU/SSMI DATA AND THE WATER VAPOR SATELLITE INDICATE A PWAT FEED
STRETCHING FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO ABOUT 1000 MILES WEST OF
ENSENADA, MEXICO. PWATS IN THE REGION RUN FROM AROUND 0.6" IN FAR
WESTERN NEVADA TO AROUND AN INCH IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
THIS PWAT FEED COMBINED WITH OROGRAPHIC LIFT INTO THE NORTHERN
SIERRA IS PRODUCING LIGHT TO BRIEFLY MODERATE RAIN AND HIGHER
ELEVATION SNOW THERE WITH SOME LIGHT RAIN OR SPRINKLES SPILLING
INTO WESTERN NEVADA. TO THE NORTH OF THIS MOISTURE FEED, A JET
STREAK (ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER LOW OFF PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST)
COMING INTO NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA IS BRINGING ANOTHER AREA OF
PRECIPITATION TO THAT REGION.
THE MOISTURE FEED WILL SAG SOUTH THROUGH CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA
TODAY WHILE THE UPPER LOW PUSHES INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS
WILL KEEP WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF RAIN AND SNOW GOING IN THE SIERRA
INTO THIS AFTERNOON. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE UPPER LOW/COLD AIR
ALOFT STAYS WELL NORTH OF THE REGION AND THE FACT THAT THE
MOISTURE SOURCE IS SUBTROPICAL, SNOW LEVELS SHOULD NOT FALL TOO
MUCH TODAY FROM THEIR CURRENT LEVELS.
THE OTHER STORY TODAY IS WINDS. WINDS ARE ALREADY GUSTING BETWEEN
35 AND 45 MPH IN THE IMMEDIATE LEE OF THE SIERRA IN WESTERN NEVADA
AND JUST EAST OF THE WARNERS IN THE SURPRISE VALLEY. WINDS WILL
INCREASE AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD BY THIS AFTERNOON AS PRESSURE
GRADIENTS INCREASE BETWEEN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND EASTERN NEVADA
AND THE DEPTH OF MOISTURE IN THE LEE OF THE SIERRA DECREASES AS
THE AFOREMENTIONED MOISTURE TAP MOVES SOUTH.
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL PREVAIL OVER THE REGION TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY. AN UPPER WAVE MOVING THROUGH THE INTERIOR NORTHWEST AND
NORTHERN ROCKIES THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY WILL BRING A REINFORCING
SURFACE HIGH/SHOT OF COLDER AIR INTO THE REGION. THIS WILL BRING
GUSTY WINDS TO WEST-CENTRAL NEVADA (BASIN AND RANGE EAST OF RENO)
BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH POSSIBLE. IT
WILL ALSO BRING SEVERAL DEGREES OF COOLING FROM THURSDAY TO
FRIDAY. SNYDER
.LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
MEDIUM RANGE OPERATIONAL MODELS AND MOST GEFS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS ARE
IN BETTER OVERALL AGREEMENT THIS MORNING COMPARED TO TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS AGO. THE MODELS CONTINUE THE TREND OF CARVING A BROAD TROUGH
ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. AND AS FAR WEST AS THE ERN GREAT BASIN.
MEANWHILE A HIGH AMPLITUDE RIDGE DEVELOPS OFF THE WEST COAST. A FEW
GEFS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS HAVE THE TROUGH A LITTLE FARTHER WEST WITH A
SHORT WAVE DROPPING ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT. EARLIER THE
OPERATIONAL GFS HAD SHOWN THIS...BUT DOES NOT HAVE IT NOW.
OVERALL MADE ONLY A FEW MINOR CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST AND
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE IS BACK ON THE UPSWING. COOLED TEMPS A LITTLE
MORE SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY WHILE STILL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
BROAD CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT. LEFT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER THE FAR
NRN CWA SATURDAY EVEN THOUGH A CONSENSUS OF THE MODELS WOULD NOT
REALLY SUPPORT MUCH.
MODELS DO BEGIN TO TRANSITION BACK TO A MORE ACTIVE PATTERN LATE
TUESDAY AS THE RIDGE AXIS MOVES OVER THE REGION AND ANOTHER STORM
TRIES TO GATHER STRENGTH IN THE ERN PACIFIC. OPERATIONAL GFS IS A
BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THIS FEATURE AND IS SUPPORTED BY A FEW OF
ITS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS. BETTER CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION IS BEYOND THE
EXTENDED TIME FRAME INTO WEDNESDAY/WEDNESDAY NIGHT. 20
&&
.AVIATION...
LIGHT TO MODERATE PCPN CONTINUES TO PUSH INTO THE SIERRA AND FAR NE
CA THIS MORNING WITH SNOW LEVELS VARYING FROM AROUND 6000 FT ACROSS
THE FAR NORTH TO 7000-7500 FT IN THE TAHOE AREA AND UP TO AS HIGH AS
8000 FT IN MONO COUNTY. SO SNOW IS ONLY CONFINED TO THE HIGHEST
ELEVATIONS WHERE IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH EARLY
AFTERNOON. IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS IN THE SIERRA CONDITIONS WILL
VARY FROM MVFR TO VFR THIS MORNING. A BURST OF PCPN LATE THIS
MORNING COULD BRIEFLY LOWER SNOW LEVELS AND PRODUCE IFR
CIGS/VSBYS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE NOT LIKELY AT KTRK/KTVL DUE TO
WARM RUNWAY TEMPS.
EAST OF THE SIERRA CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN LARGELY VFR WITH
OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KRNO/KCXP LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE
AFTERNOON. THE SAME HOLDS FOR KMMH ALTHOUGH THERE IS A BETTER
CHANCE...ABOUT 40%...OF SEEING PERIODS OF MVFR WITH BORDERLINE IFR
CIGS LATER TODAY.
WINDS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE THE LARGER IMPACT EAST OF THE SIERRA. SFC
GRADIENT INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY WITH SFC GUSTS FROM THE SOUTH
REACHING UP TO 35-40 KT. WILL TO INCLUDE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EARLY
TODAY BEFORE THE DIRECTION SHIFTS TO THE WEST-SOUTHWEST BY LATE
MORNING THEN WEST-NORTHWEST BY EARLY EVENING. GUSTS WILL REMAIN
QUITE STRONG THROUGH THE DAY BEFORE DECREASING TONIGHT. RIDGE GUSTS
IN THE 65-75 KT RANGE ARE LIKELY FOR THE SIERRA AND HIGHER
RIDGELINES IN WRN NV. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONTINUED RISK OF
TURBULENCE ALONG AND DOWNWIND OF THE SIERRA THROUGH THE DAY. 20
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
NVZ003-005.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LAKE TAHOE
IN NVZ002.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
NVZ001-004.
CA...WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
CAZ070-071.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR LAKE TAHOE
IN CAZ072.
&&
FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO (ALL LOWER CASE)In the hours before
Local storm report, Mar 20, 9:20 AM PST, 2 hours 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1020 AM PDT WED MAR 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 AM SNOW LUTHER PASS 38.79N 119.95W
03/20/2013 E2.0 INCH EL DORADO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
ELEV 7735 FT
0928 AM SNOW 6 SE ALPINE MEADOWS 39.10N 120.16W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOURS SNOWFALL OF 2 INCHES MEASURED NEAR HOMEWOOD.
ELEVATION 6330 FEET.
0940 AM SNOW ALPINE MEADOWS 39.17N 120.22W
03/20/2013 M4.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT ALPINE MEADOWS SKI RESORT.
0940 AM SNOW 1 NE INCLINE VILLAGE 39.26N 119.95W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT DIAMOND PEAK SKI RESORT.
0942 AM SNOW HOMEWOOD 39.08N 120.16W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT.
0942 AM SNOW HEAVENLY VALLEY 38.96N 119.89W
03/20/2013 M1.0 INCH DOUGLAS NV PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT HEAVENLY SKI RESORT.
0942 AM SNOW MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA 39.33N 119.89W
03/20/2013 M1.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL REPORTED AT MOUNT ROSE SKI RESORT.
0942 AM SNOW NORTHSTAR 39.28N 120.12W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT NORTHSTAR AT TAHOE SKI RESORT.
0945 AM SNOW SQUAW VALLEY 39.20N 120.22W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFAL TOTAL AT SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORT.
0950 AM SNOW 2 W MAMMOTH LAKES 37.64N 118.99W
03/20/2013 M2.0 INCH MONO CA PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT
SESAME SNOW STUDY PLOT AT 9,000 FEET.
&&
MCGUIRELocal storm report, Mar 20, 11:54 AM PST, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1254 PM PDT WED MAR 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1201 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW RENO 39.61N 119.86W
03/20/2013 M55.00 MPH WASHOE NV OFFICIAL NWS OBS
55 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
FORECAST OFFICE IN RENO, NV AT 4,974 FEET.
1236 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SW RENO 39.48N 119.90W
03/20/2013 M56.00 MPH WASHOE NV OTHER FEDERAL
56 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE GALENA RAWS.
1239 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S CARSON CITY 39.11N 119.76W
03/20/2013 M53.00 MPH DOUGLAS NV DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
53 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE NDOT HIGHWAY SENSOR IN
CARSON VALLEY.
1241 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SW WASHOE CITY 39.31N 119.82W
03/20/2013 M71.00 MPH WASHOE NV DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
71 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED BY THE NDOT SENSOR ON THE I-580
GALENA BRIDGE.
1243 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S WASHOE CITY 39.28N 119.81W
03/20/2013 M53.00 MPH WASHOE NV DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
53 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED BY NDOT SENSOR IN WASHOE
VALLEY.
1243 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SILVER SPRINGS 39.42N 119.22W
03/20/2013 M51.00 MPH LYON NV MESONET
51 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED BY MESONET WEATHER SENSOR IN
SILVER SPRINGS.
1248 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 N CEDARVILLE 41.56N 120.17W
03/20/2013 M50.00 MPH MODOC CA OTHER FEDERAL
50 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED BY RAWS WEATHER STATION NEAR
CEDERAVILLE.
1251 PM NON-TSTM WND GST STEAD 39.64N 119.88W
03/20/2013 M48.00 MPH WASHOE NV MESONET
48 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED THE RENO/STEAD AIRPORT AWOS.
&&
MCGUIREHigh Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- March 20, 12:00 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Widespread wind gusts of 58 to 66 mph occurred along and west of highway 395 and Interstate 580 from Washoe Valley south in addition to the southwest and northern portions of Reno. In the foothills west of Reno and Carson City, winds gusted between 75 and 81 mph with brief gusts as high as 92 mph on the south end of Washoe Valley around 1430PST. High winds caused power outages in Caughlin Ranch (SW Reno) and Carson City, with power poles knocked down in Carson City. Around 6700 customers were affected by power outages on the afternoon of the 20th.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Heavy Snow and Damaging Winds in Idaho, March 20, 2013$175,000 · 65 kt wind · 3 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 22, 2013$125,000 · 2 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, March 20 to 22, 2013$75,000 · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Colorado, March 20 to 21, 20139 events
- Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 20 to 21, 20139 events
- High Wind in Montana, March 20 to 21, 201351 kt wind · 6 events
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 21, 20135 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, March 20 to 21, 20132 events
- High Wind in Oregon, March 20, 201362 kt wind · 2 events
- Damaging Winds in Oregon, March 20, 201366 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail in Florida, March 20, 20130.88 in hail · 2 events
- High Wind in Washington, March 20, 201356 kt wind · 2 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 442578.